Rheumatoid Arthritis Win with DIY Project

My sweet Izzy took nap time
 downstairs to be close to me. 

In our current house, I've painted three bedrooms, two of them multiple times now and the kitchen. So, when I decided to paint our small downstairs bathroom, I thought it would be a breeze. Nope. The bright yellow walls we painted almost 16 years ago were stubborn about leaving. Then, the paint color I had so carefully considered looked awful on the walls and I had to prime again. Finally, we found a color everyone is happy with and the bathroom is complete.

From bright yellow to
rose
marquee.

Do-it-yourself projects tend to make me feel rather proud. Partly, I feel a sense of accomplishment that I was able to complete the project by myself but more than that, I feel a certain satisfaction in knowing that rheumatoid arthritis doesn't currently have control over my life. Sure, I know beforehand I will wake up with sore wrists and I did. My fingers were swollen throughout the process, but not unbearable. It was tough to squat down and paint behind the toilet, but I managed. Rheumatoid arthritis has a way of taking me down at times but when I accomplish something big like a DIY project, it is the best. Somehow, a win against RA even makes the room more beautiful. 

Missing My Walking Partner

My walking partner of eight years is taking a break from walking.  I hope it's only a break anyhow. For the last month my border collie Izzy hasn't been interested in joining me on my morning walks.  Sometimes we will make it to the end of our driveway, she stops, and won't move until I assure her we will go back in the house.  Lately she won't even look at me when I mention getting harnessed and going out. I feel sad.

Many neighbors have mentioned that they admire that I get Izzy out for a walk no matter what the weather. (After 22 inches of snow, she was ready to go!) They have said, "That dog is so lucky."  What they don't know is that I need my walks just as much as her. Walking in the morning is like a morning cup of coffee to me.  Without it I feel cranky and incomplete.  When they say Izzy is lucky, I smile because I know it is me that is lucky.  My sweet Izzy has given me so much by simply being my walking partner- routine, motivation, companionship, and so much more. I credit Izzy for guiding me through my worst rheumatoid arthritis days. There were years when the last thing I wanted to do was get out for a walk, but she patiently walked beside me at a snail's pace. She has been with me on walks where I could shed my tears of pain without my family having to watch.  She has taught me to let things go and to just enjoy the very moment I am in.  She has also been by my side as the medications starting taking affect and my energy and ability to move improved. She is this woman's best walking friend.    

Last year she took a little break when we had a lot of storms. I chose to stay home with her.  This year however, she has taken a long break- about a month.  We have had a rainy summer with a lot of humidity. She doesn't like storms and with age she seems to tire out faster.  On a walk in June she overheated and hasn't been interested in leaving the house again. Needing to get out and get my joints going first thing in the morning, I have been going alone.  Many neighbors have asked where Izzy is.  I know they think she died. Others don't recognize me without her.  We are a pair.  Without her I feel lonely.

I have always told my kids to listen to their bodies.  They know what is best for themselves.  I am trying to give Izzy the same respect.  I ask her every day if she wants to join me and then let it go when she doesn't. She knows why she doesn't want to go.  And she is not showing any signs of pain.  She is still happy to have us chase her around the air conditioned house with a ball or play tug.  She does like car rides so I may take her somewhere new and see if she wants to walk there. If not, I'll just wait until she is ready to be my walking partner again.  On that day, I will welcome her with a big smile of relief.

 

The Calm that Comes with the Familiar

There are days that Izzy and I jump in the car and head for a forest preserve to do our daily walk together, but most days, we take advantage of the sidewalks in our own neighborhood.  In fact, I have found that if I take Izzy somewhere new or different, she doesn't seem settled until we have walked around our own neighborhood.  Perhaps for Izzy and me, the familiar brings a certain amount of calm.  For me, I don't have to think too hard on where I am going and can instead let my thoughts flow in and out.  I find that I am constantly learning new things about my neighborhood of close to 500 homes.  Who is moving?  Who has a teenager graduating?  Ooohhh....new outdoor furniture.  Nice.  Lately, I have been focusing on what plants my neighbors are having success with and figuring out what I want for my own yard.  I enjoy seeing friendly faces in the morning that greet me with a smile and I even get a kick out of figuring out ways to avoid those few who don't.  Izzy seems to have her own needs of the familiar. At six years old, she has finally stopped trying to herd every bicyclist in the neighborhood and we both know which dogs are of no interest to her and which ones she would like to tear apart.  Her favorite thing though is peeing in the same spots each day.

Recently, my son couldn't sleep and ended up taking a very early morning walk.  Out of curiosity, I asked which paths he took.  He shared how he left our neighborhood and visited the one next to ours.  He mentioned a path he found that connected our two neighborhoods together.  What?  I have walked this neighborhood daily for the last six years.  How could I miss this path?  Whenever I have decided to extend my walk to the next neighborhood, I have always taken the long way around, thinking there had to be a quicker/easier way.

Yesterday I decided to do a little exploring.  Although I feel like I have walked every street in our neighborhood, I never walk the cul-de-sacs.  This must be where the mystery path was hidden.  The first two did not expose any hidden paths.  Then as I approached the third one I could see a path.  I couldn't see from a distance where it lead, but it was a path.  It was like a shining light came down on this path.  I had found the right place.  I felt relief.  Izzy and I headed down the path and found it lead to a dead end. Disappointed, we headed back to the main path.  The fourth cul-de-sac did not unveil any hidden paths.  On the way home, I felt a conflict in my head going on.  Did I want to continue the search the next day or was I content to continue following the path I have been to the next neighborhood?

My walks with Izzy always provide me with time to think and reflect.  Yesterday's walking experience allowed me to reflect on my health.  Lately I have found myself feeling the need to revamp my overall health plan. Currently, I am following the familiar path of taking medications for my rheumatoid arthritis, but it doesn't always feel right to me. When I chose to go back on medications, it was with the understanding that I would take them as long as I felt comfortable with that decision. I can't say I am completely uncomfortable taking them right now, but definitely starting to think of how to change things up a bit.  Medications are often like my walks through our neighborhood, I don't have to think too hard about what I am doing which does create a certain amount of calm.  It also allows me time to rest my brain from so many years of experimenting with alternative treatments while also looking around at what others are doing to see what fits my lifestyle. This time with the familiar has allowed me to do a little research into some things I would like to try in the future.

The basic belief system I had when I started this blog in 2008 hasn't changed.  I still believe the body wants to heal.  In many ways my body has healed, but not to a point I can easily go off the medications yet.  Like my walk yesterday, I haven't found the path that my body needs to get me to the next place, but this time on medications is allowing me to explore while not feeling pain.  Since my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, I have definitely discovered many paths to wellness, but something is still missing.  My body still has lot of room to heal, but I need to keep searching for the path that is perfect for my individual body.  The one thing I have accepted while chasing each of these different paths is that what I am looking for may not come easily or with a lot of guidance.  There will be many dead ends. That is why it is so important to continue to be patient, open minded, and most of all continue to nourish myself both physically and mentally.  With time, the path that is perfect for my body will be discovered.  For now, I will continue to enjoy the calm that comes with the familiar.          

Other People's Feelings Are Not Mine

When Izzy and I go for our morning walk we are often met by dogs that are off leash. Their human is always close behind and starts yelling for their dog to return to them.  Sometimes the dog returns, but generally it doesn't.  I always warn them that Izzy is very particular about who she comes in contact with and there may be a problem, especially since she is very protective of me.

This morning we ran into a human who had once again allowed his dog to walk off leash.  The last time we ran into this human and dog, Izzy became very upset.  This time, she instantly became upset and then quickly calmed herself down and waited patiently as the human tried to retrieve his dog.  The dog kept barking at Izzy but the calmer Izzy became the less the dog seemed to be bothered.

As I watched the quick transformation in my border collie, I knew she had once again taught me an important lesson.  This dog came towards her with frustration and needed to "talk".  Izzy had her initial response of anger at this attack and then quickly let it go.  She seemed to realize that this wasn't her issue.  She had nothing to prove as she could have easily taken this little dog out.

Over the years I have been taking steps to let other people's feelings not become my own.  Today I saw that we always have an initial reaction to other's feelings, but what we do with that reaction is up to us.  I hope that the next time I am in a situation of someone trying to place their feelings of anger, fear, or frustration onto me that I can do as Izzy did today and let it go.  I hope that my calm will let the other person know that their feelings aren't for me to feel and experience.  I am so proud of Izzy.  Like me, it has taken her a long time to get to this point.  We are definitely learning together.

Stomach Fat to the Rescue

This morning I woke up and thought, "Oh poop, this extra layer of holiday stomach fat didn't disappear overnight as I hoped."  Oh well, what can I expect when I continue to eat additional holiday foods after the holidays?

Rather than reflecting too long on my stomach, I headed out for my morning walk with Izzy.  I was determined not to let the low temperatures of the morning stop me from walking my usual 40-45 minutes.  Several times on my walk my fingers became super cold and I knew I either had to head back home fast or I had to once again use my stomach to warm up my hands.  I chose my stomach.  Oh boy was I glad to feel that extra layer of fat as my cold hands slipped into my shirt.  Thank you stomach and all your beautiful layers of fat.  You instantly warmed up my hands and I was able to enjoy another beautiful morning walk with snow flakes falling all around me! 

Happy 5th Birthday Izzy

I grew up with dogs, but none of them were ever "my" dog.  Izzy is our first dog as a family but she is really "my" dog.  She folllows me from room to room, she sleeps with me, she greets me at the door no matter how long I have been gone, and she listens to my every word.  She does have a mind of her own though and does what she wants with my words.  She has been by my side through the worst of my rheumatoid arthritis flares and her high energy level has forced me out of bed every day, even when I thought it wasn't possible.  Daily she challenges me to renew my patience as a human as she attempts to countersurf, when she gets jealous that I am hugging Steve goodbye in the morning and acts like a spoiled toddler, and as she barks at bicyclists, UPS trucks, and basically anyone and everything that passes by our house.   Yet she calms me as I sit and pet her, as she runs to the bedroom when I say, "let's take a nap", and as she listens to me when I least expect her to.  I love that in the morning she really wants to bark at dogs passing by our house but muffles her bark when I remind her "the kids are sleeping."  I love that on weekend mornings she greets Steve in bed with a ball in her mouth.  Oh, how I love watching the two of them play.  I love playing ball with her in the backyard and then watching her as your energy explodes and she runs top speed in circles around the yard.  If you haven't seen a border collie run at top speed, you have definitely missed out on a beautiful thing.  I love Izzy for all that she brings to my life.

My sweet Izzy is a New Year's baby.  Today I would like to celebrate Izzy and the joy she brings to my life.


It is amazing how small not only Izzy was when she joined our family at 16 weeks old, but also how small Alexander and Sophia were.  They both now tower over their momma.

Could she be any cuter? I warned the kids when we picked her up that if she wasn't right for us we wouldn't take her home.  The minute I saw her, I knew she was coming home with us.

Right away we switched Izzy from her kibble diet to a homemade raw food diet.  She was paleo/primal before we were.

My hiking partner.

As much as I despise the snow, Izzy loves it.  She loves sitting on the driveway letting the snow accumulate on her body.

I laughed and laughed last winter when we experienced a blizzard.  Izzy ran back and forth in the back yard until she had a path made for herself.  Until the snow melted, she used that path everyday.  It was so funny to watch her ! Oh, and of course she still wanted to be walked, even though the streets and sidewalks were covered in snow.    

Steve and Izzy on a campout.  Steve is definitely in line as Izzy's second favorite since he is her main playmate.

Izzy was with me during my first week back on prednisone in March 2010.  We hiked a different path every day of my Amazing Week.

She's just one of the family.  She loves new adventures with us.

She loves sleeping in my spot when I am away from home.

If Izzy can do it so can I.  That was my philosophy during our last hike.

Pretty Izzy keeps a watchful eye out for us.

Izzy loves to help in the kitchen.  She patiently waits to see if I drop any food and then cleans it right up!

"Did I hear food?"  Food comes before everything else, even  "ball".

Happy birthday Izzy and happy 2012 to all of you!  I appreciate you taking time to stop by and read about my adventures and I especially love when you leave comments.  Thanks so much!

I'm so Smart: My Response to Raynaud's disease

Winter and morning walks are not a good combination for Raynaud's disease.  However, the many benefits of getting outside everyday and moving outweigh the side effects.   The other morning I was out for my walk with Izzy.  I was dressed in layers and had on my warm winter gloves.  However, about half way through the walk I could feel the tips of my fingers getting really cold.  Rather than go into a panic which sometimes happens when they get this cold, a super smart idea came to me, "use your body."  I took off my gloves and placed my hands on my warm stomach.  Of course my stomach wasn't too pleased at first but within a few minutes my hands were toasty again and I was able to put my gloves back on and head home without a problem.  Thank you stomach for staying so warm and helping my fingers.

The Interruptions of Life

I love jumping into a bed that has been made, even if I have to make it five minutes before bedtime.  When my kids when younger, making the bed was always a slow process.  They would see me making the bed and jump onto the bed requesting I either wrestle with them or throw pillows on them and wrap them in a blanket as if they were a hotdog.  Now, the kids will often help me make my bed but we have sweet Izzy to deal with.  As soon as I start making the bed she runs up the stairs and jumps on the bed looking for a little petting.  If I attempt to get her off the bed, she thinks I want to play with her and gets a little crazy.

It is times like this that I remind myself that one day our house will be quiet.  Alexander and Sophia will have moved on and out of the house and Izzy will have left this world.  These are the good times.  The inconveniences that come with life are really the things that make life worth living.  Stopping to enjoy these little interruptions are the very things that make me happy.

Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed

Every morning before leaving for work I make my bed and every afternoon I come home to this:

For a while I thought the kids were cuddling up in my spot after I left and enjoying a few more minutes of sleep.  Then I learned who was really behind unmaking my bed:

Alexander told me that every morning after my car takes off, Izzy runs up to my bedroom and begins "fixing" the blankets.  Then she lays down and takes a little nap right in my spot.  I guess she likes to be close to me when I am away.  So sweet. 

Early Morning Walks

Mondays and Wednesdays are a little crazy for me.  I am up by 5am to work out with my husband, out the door to walk with Izzy by 6am, on my way to teach a four hour class by 8am, home again by 1:15pm generally to run a few errands with the kids and make dinner before heading out to teach a five hour evening class.  I get home around 10:30pm.  It is a long day.

With so much going on Mondays and Wednesdays my daily walk with Izzy means I need to be out the door before the sun comes up.  Now that the temperatures are dropping, I am always reluctant to make this walk.  The thought of starting out my day walking in the cold on a dark morning doesn't seem too appealing.  Yet, I do it.

The amazing thing is every Monday and Wednesday, I love this walk once I get outside the door.  At first it takes me a little time to adjust my eyes to the dark.  Our neighborhood does not have street lights so I depend on the light from neighbors who still have working yard lamps or who leave their porch lights on all night.  A big portion of my walk with Izzy is through the commons area where there is no light and here I rely on the light of the moon and my ability to read Izzy.  On these dark mornings I must pay attention to her movements because I know she is more aware of what is ahead of us than me.
   

As we continue our walk my eyes adjust to the dark and I become more aware of my surroundings.  I pay attention to things I normally don't notice on walks during daylight.  I find myself feeling a little nervous on my walk because we don't know what might be ahead, yet excited by that very thought.  

As we continue on our walk, we see the beginnings of light shining through the trees. 

We come home from our walk and I feel happy that I had this time in nature while everything was still and quiet.  It is a nice way to start a crazy day full of activity.  I am always so thankful for my beautiful border collie and her need to get outside of the house often and explore the neighborhood.  Without her, I would be missing much from this wonderful world. 







While I hurry off to work, my sweet Izzy jumps back into bed and gets to go back to sleep.  Lucky girl!

*I save my pictures one direction and they show up on here another direction.  Please just turn your laptop sideways to view pictures. 

The Best Thing That Can Happen To Me Is Happening Right Now

Deepak Chopra says, “The best thing that can happen to me is happening right now." Now that my rheumatoid arthritis inflammation has calmed down and my body is able to do so much, it is easy to believe in this philosophy.  When I feel good my whole relationship with life is different than when I am in the midst of a flare.   But as I took a long walk with my border collie Izzy the other morning, it occurred to me that all those years I have spent dealing with one flare after another was actually the best thing that could have happened to me. It was the best thing that could have happened to me because it was preparing me for where I am today.

I like where I am today.  I feel happy with who I have become over the years.  I like rejoicing in the small everyday events of my life that I didn’t focus on as much before rheumatoid arthritis slowed me down.  I like that rheumatoid arthritis forced me to stop and think about the time and energy I spent doing “things”.  I can now look at my day and decide what is really important to me and let everything else go.  Rheumatoid arthritis has helped me to focus on my goals in life and to let people and things that are filling voids in my life go so that I have room to give to those who are filling me to the brim with love, worthwhile experiences, and fun.    I have learned that it is okay to ask for help and that people actually want to be there for me.  I have built stronger relationships.  I have learned to eat in a way that is not only providing my rheumatoid arthritis some relief but also the stomach issues I have dealt with since I was a young girl.  I have discovered passions that revolve around food choices and health choices.  I have learned that everyone has a very unique path they need to follow and even though it may be quite different than my path, it doesn’t mean it is wrong. 

Although I don’t like the pain that rheumatoid arthritis has brought to my life and those around me, I know it was where I needed to be.  Rheumatoid arthritis needed to be a part of who I am.(And still does)  All the awful days I spent in flares forced me to take a deep look at who I am and what I really want out of life.  I needed to have those days in my past to get to where I am today.  Each day I have experienced  with pain, swelling, and tears and each day I have spent without any of those were exactly where I needed to be each day.  Each day is a chance to learn and to grow.  As I write this post and reflect on my day, I know “The best thing that can happen to me is happening right now."  

Slowing Down and Enjoying the Moment

Izzy makes herself a pillow out of our grocery bags.

Slowing down is good.  Enjoying the moment we are in right now is even better.  I was given a very special gift four years ago when Izzy, our border collie, became part of our family.  Each and every day she pulls me away from the craziness of life and into a few moments of pure calm and happiness. 

She has always been my napping partner, but lately when I lay down, I wake up and find her head resting on my shoulder. 

My napping partner.  I love that she is so snuggly. 

The kids say that after I leave for work in the morning, she runs upstairs and lays in my spot on the bed.  I do notice the bed is unmade when I get home even though I made it before leaving.  :)  When she was younger, she would sit by the window waiting for me to return home.

Steve laughed the other day at how she "talks" to me.  He said, "This is definitely something she has developed over the years."  It is true.  She only uses it with me.  Her "talk" involves chomping her teeth together when she is trying to tell me something.  She comes to me for everything - to tell Steve to play with her, to go outside, when she wants food, when the kids are up too late making noise, etc.

She knows when it is nighttime and if she needs to go outside, she quietly tells me. She is respectful of our sleep, but once our alarm goes off, she makes sure we get up, even if she goes right back to bed.  Even on the weekend if I am not up by 6:30, I have to tell her it is okay for me to sleep in, otherwise she wants to make sure I am up.  She likes jumping back into bed with me knowing she took care of her job.

She needs to be busy and constantly watches out our front window. She isn't a fan of other dogs walking by our house and gets quite upset with UPS trucks, mail carriers, garbage trucks, and school buses.  Where her barking once scared them, they all just smile and wave at me now.  One UPS driver said, "Don't worry. She is good.  She wants to protect you." 

I love pulling up in the driveway knowing Izzy will greet us after any time away from home.

As my body has grown stronger over the last several months, I have been able to play with Izzy more frequently.  She now comes to me with a ball in her mouth or her tug toy.  I love playing with her. 

How can I resist her? 

Last week we ended up with about 20 inches of snow.  While we were shoveling the driveway, I took a short break and walked Izzy around on her leash.  She walked straight over to where the sidewalk should be, turned and started her walk.  She wasn't about to let the piles of snow stop her from her daily walk.  I felt bad for her but I wasn't about to walk in 20 inches of snow for a walk.  She had to wait until the driveway was shoveled and then we took her out for a walk on the street.  It drove her a little crazy. She kept trying to get back on the sidewalk.  She is such a creature of habit.  

After Alexander shoveled the back porch and we were able to open the door, I let Izzy out.  She quickly had me laughing out loud hollering for everyone in the house to come look at her as she ran back and forth from one side of the yard to the other making a path for herself.  This line is exactly where she goes to potty.  I had to laugh later in the night when she was outside barking.  I called her in and she followed that path exactly, making a sharp left turn on the path she made towards the house.  Except for the path she has created for herself, the snow in our back yard has been barely touched.   
 

Her running looked more like hopping.

Her job was complete. 


Everyone comes into our lives for a reason.  As a border collie, Izzy comes with a lot of energy and obsessive traits along with a calm and loving personality.   Many of her traits have challenged me to learn more patience and many require absolutely nothing except stopping and enjoying the moment.  

It's the Simple Things in Life that Make Me Smile

When I look at my life as a whole, it is the simple everyday things that make me the happiest.  This sweet border collie of mine makes me smile every single day.  Whether it is early in the morning when she army crawls her way between Steve and me for some lovin', when she runs at full speed in the backyard while I play ball with her, when she is frightened by the noise of a new toy, when she follows me around the house night or day, or when she comes to me with a ball in her mouth squeaking it to say, "Let's play." She makes me smile when she runs to the door in excitement if asked if she wants to go "bye-bye" (a ride in the car) or when she listens attentively on a walk in the morning.  (Unfortunately, this doesn't happen all the time.) Yesterday she made me smile again with a habit she has of refusing to move from her spot on the driveway when we shovel.  She finds a bed of snow to lay on and refuses to move from that spot.  We shovel around her thinking she will move, but she rarely does.  Even if she does get up for a second, she goes right back to her bed of snow.   She will sit outside for long periods of time letting the snow fall gently on her body.   

Walks and Renewed Health

Last year at this time I was off of dog walking duty due to the fact that moving any joint in my body caused pain and at that time in my life, I was just trying to make it through the day.  For many people, being relieved of walking duty during Chicago winters would be welcome.  Not me.  I really missed getting out with my dog each morning.  Sure, I sometimes dread getting out in the cold and many times have to rush home because the tips of my fingers and toes are so cold I think I am going to pass out, but I also love the energy I feel when I return home.  I love that each day seems to bring something new to me.  Twice now Izzy and I have seen the neighborhood fox.  Once we were even fairly close and the two of them looked at each other and then moved on.  I have enjoyed watching the leaves slowly disappear so I can now see the squirrels nests and watch them chasing each other in the trees.  I like meeting fellow dog walkers on the path so our dogs can have a quick sniff with a friend.  I also like that with the cooler weather Izzy gets into her crouched play stance when she sees her friends.  I like mornings like I had the other day where I start off my walk in the dark and get into deep thought, looking down to make sure I don't fall on the ice, turn the corner, and realize the sun is coming up.  What a beautiful start to my day.

With joints that are now cooperating with me, I have gained new strength and flexibility and have been having a little fun!  Izzy and I are now running up and down small hills in the neighborhood rather than avoiding them.  I sometimes find myself smiling like a kid as I try to keep up with Izzy.  She seems to like it too.  I have been balancing on curbs while being pulled by Izzy.  I sometimes think my neighbors must think I am nuts, but then I don't care because the two of us are enjoying ourselves so much.

What I have discovered from walking each and every morning is that every day has something different and wonderful to give to us.   When I wake up in the morning, I might be able to predict my entire days activities, but my walks are always unpredictable.  Even walking the same path, I never know what critters we will encounter, I never know which of our neighbors we will get to visit with, I never know where my mind will be allowed to venture into with the quiet of the morning.

Knowing that each morning I am now able to walk my sweet Izzy is one of the greatest gifts I have been given with my renewed health.  Not only do I enjoy spending time with my border collie, but I also love discovering what gifts nature has in store for the day.

I've Fallen....and I CAN Get Up!

When I took over the morning walks with Izzy again, I resumed the training I was doing with her on our walks before I had to take a break. She has always been a "reactive" dog so as we walk past a bike rider or jogger I have been giving her commands so she knows how I expect her to behave. She is doing an awesome job. It is rare that she lunges at a bike rider anymore and when we walk past the homes of our neighbors with dogs that also go a little crazy, she quietly looks at me and returns to my side. Even when the kids walk her in the afternoon they have noticed the improvement in her leashed walking.

Yesterday we had a setback. We were out early when we saw a little white yappy dog approaching us. (These are Izzy's least favorite kind of dogs.) I quickly went to the opposite side of the street as I always do with any dog that Izzy is not familiar. I also let her know what I expected of her, which up to this point has been working out great. But yesterday, it was just too much for Izzy and once the dog started barking and lunging at her, she just couldn't control herself and started right back at the dog. I remained calm as the dogs continued barking and lunging at each other expecting that the guy across the street would have a better chance of moving his little dog along than I would my border collie. But no, he didn't seem to be in a big hurry and Izzy continued to get more agitated and stronger. For the second time since she became our family dog, I found myself flipped over on the ground. My first thought of course was "this is so embarrassing. Did anyone else see me? " and my second thought was "wow, I am so glad this happened when I am capable of getting up from the ground by myself." It would have been really embarrassing to have to wait for a neighbor to come help me up or give my kids an emergency call to come help me up. Falling on a walk or being pulled down to the ground in this case, and not being able to get back up has been a fear of mine for a long time. But, my fears didn't come true (this time anyhow) and I not only got back up, but also was able to keep hold of my crazy dog!


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I emailed a good friend the other day and shared with her that I have been having some pain returning. It is strange how each joint has its own type of pain. Most of the pain has been in my fingers, toes and left knee. As a student of naturopathy she right away asked what I have been doing differently. I couldn't think of a thing. Then on Monday night I took Sophia to see our family physician for a diagnosis and texted my friend for natural substitutes to his recommendations. (Our family physician is awesome. He is aware of this game I play. Go to him for the diagnosis and then treat it naturally). She recommended a supplement that I have been taking for pain. I admitted that I haven't been taking it the last few weeks because I ran out and thought maybe I didn't need it anymore. She said, "That could be the problem." I am not sure if it is, but I did restock my supplements yesterday and hope that they do the trick.

Dog Walker

Guess who has been the morning dog walker this week? That's right.....It's Me!!! Yippee for feeling good.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Izzy

Everyone comes into our life for a reason, right? Well, one of Izzy's reasons must be to make sure I get up and get moving in the mornings. It is so easy to sit at the computer with my hot cup of tea and not move, but it is almost as if she knows I need to be up and moving around to get my joints going. Every morning, when it is just her and I awake, she gets into everything. I am constantly up and down. I am going to choose to believe that is a good thing and she is trying to help my joints prepare for the day rather than drive me crazy!

Much to Be Thankful For

On this Sunday morning I have much to be thankful for:

~Alexander will be 14 on Saturday. When I look at him, I am so impressed and amazed that I had a part in creating him.

~Since going off Arava on Wednesday, the pressure in my ribs has disappeared.

~In two short weeks Sophia's performances of "A Little Princess" begin. Her part in the play is small but the experiences she has gained already are huge!

~My amazingly creative sister Sherry is back to reading lots of books and sharing ideas with me.

~Steve has a gig tonight. I LOVE watching him perform.

~In two weeks my mom will be in Chicago for a short visit. She is flying in to see Sophia's play and because she loves us. Also, my brother Mike has a meeting in Chicago and will be able to see Sophia's show.

~In a little over a month I will be married for 22 years. I can't imagine my life without Steve. He makes me smile everyday and even on my worst RA days makes me feel like the most beautiful woman alive.

~Alexander and I watched Food, Inc. last week. Watching the film sent chills through my body but also gave me a greater appreciation for the food coop we belong to where we are able to buy free range meat and eggs from farmers we trust. Unfortunately, due to overwhelming harassment by the FDA, this coop can no longer provide fresh dairy to its members which makes me very sad.

~I have a job that I really like and works around the needs of my family.

~My dad used to sing to us when he woke us up in the morning. I do the same thing with my kids. I think of my dad every time I start singing my corny made-up songs.

~Alexander is teaching me about the Cuban Missile Crisis as he learns about it. Learning is so fun when you are taught by your children.

~Sophia often has strangers tell her that she has a beautiful smile. It is true. Like Alexander, I look at her and feel amazed that I helped create her.

~In July my sister Stacey and her boys are coming for a week long visit. I can't wait!

Some days are tough for me but each day I have these amazing things to wake up to. It is great being me!

Note: Once you start listing things that you are "thankful" for, the list becomes longer and longer. Give it a try. Leave a comment of something you are thankful for today.

Dogs Bring a Sense of Community

Walking is one of my favorite forms of exercise. On good RA days I feel like I could walk for hours. Prednisone and draining the fluid in my knee has helped get me out this last month and do lots of walking. For that I am very thankful.

Before Izzy I used to attempt to get out and walk but I always felt lonely. I liked the quiet of being alone, but for some reason felt too alone. Once she started walking with me, things felt right. I could have the quiet of being alone to think but also had the feeling of someone else there with me. Many good things have come from our walks. I get more exercise, more time in the sun, more time to connect and train with Izzy, and I have met so many wonderful people in our neighborhood that I never knew existed.

Last week Izzy and I decided to ignore the rain and go ahead with our longer walk. This walk takes us to the other side of our neighborhood. Before I started having problems with my knee, this was a daily walk for Izzy and I. It feels good to be out doing it again. While we were walking I spotted an elderly neighbor sitting on his front porch. Only something was missing - no Rocky. Rocky was one of the first dogs Izzy met when she was a puppy and I was trying to socialize her. Rocky could always be found in the front yard, without a leash, following his owner. A very calm dog. He was good for Izzy who is full of energy and senses calm from other dogs. I asked about Rocky, knowing as I asked what the answer would be. My neighbor shared that Rocky didn't make it through the winter. I immediately felt tears swelling in my eyes as I know how much Rocky meant to this man. He started talking and met us at the end of the driveway. He shared how Rocky came to them years ago rather than them looking for him - as if they were meant to be. He shared how difficult this loss was for them and how they were trying to look for a new dog but there are so many choices that it is difficult.

As Izzy and I continued on our walk I thought about this neighbor as I have every day since talking. I thought about all the other neighbors that I have met due to having a walking companion each morning. When I walked alone, I would pass people who said "hello" but that was it. With Izzy, I have conversations. I get to know the people who surround me. I like that. I like that Izzy has helped bring a sense of community to my world.

An Amazing Week

Another "amazing" day. My body is tired and sore, but this time it isn't rheumatoid arthritis doing its job. Today I am experiencing the "good" tired and sore. I am tired from moving and sore from using muscles that haven't been used in too long. I LOVE moving! I LOVE having fun days with my kids and our puppy.